JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (31-7, 10-0 South Atlantic Conference) takes its 17-game win streak on the road for a double dip at Anderson (29-9, 7-3 SAC) Tuesday at 2 p.m.
First pitch between C-N and AU was moved up 24 hours to get ahead of impending storms that are forecast to hit the greater Anderson area on Wednesday.
Carson-Newman has taken the last four regular season meetings from the Trojans. However, Anderson has been victorious the last two times the teams met in South Atlantic Conference tournament play.
"We know Anderson has talent up and down their lineup," head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "However, we can't change the approach that we've used. And that's to focus on one pitch, one at bat and one game. There's no looking ahead for this team."
Carson-Newman has the nation's fifth longest active win streak and the Southeast's longest at 17 games. The 17-game win streak is tied for the seventh longest in school history. The Eagles have won 19 in-a-row twice before, in 1994 and 1992. Only Harding (25), Colorado Mesa (21), West Florida (19) and California Baptist (18) have longer active win streaks than the Eagles.
Anderson enters the contest fresh off a doubleheader split with Queens. The Trojans whipped Queens in game one 16-3 before falling in the nightcap 7-0 in a one-hit shutout.
The Trojans own SAC sweeps of Coker and Newberry, but have split with Mars Hill and Queens their last two doubleheaders.
Anderson ranks in the upper echelons of the conference in just about everything. Anderson has the league's fourth best offense and has hit the most home runs in the league with 35. The Trojans' pitching staff has also impressed with a .231 batting average against and a 2.48 team ERA, both figures are fourth in the league.
Meanwhile, Carson-Newman has been spectacular of late, especially in league play. The Eagles have outscored their conference opposition 97-10. C-N hasn't given up more than three runs (to Young Harris on March 16) on its win streak.
In conference play alone, C-N is batting .393 as a team to lead the league. Defensively, the Eagles have a 0.70 ERA in conference play and a .187 batting average against, both figures are tops in the conference. C-N starting pitchers Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Alli Webster (Charlestown, Ind.) rank one and two in the conference in strikeouts with 136 and 120, respectively.
Anderson hurler Augie Pena is third with 115 Ks. She is also third in the league in ERA with a 1.73 tally.
First pitch between the Eagles and Anderson is set for 2 p.m. from the AU Softball Complex. Coverage of the doubleheader will be available on the Eagle Sports Network at cneagles.com/live.
